Page 39 - Healthcare News May/June 2022

MAY/JUNE 2022 WWW.HEALTHCARENEWS.COM 39
MercyCelebrates4thStraight Consecutive‘A’LeapfrogGrade
SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Cen- ter colleagues gathered last last month to celebrate the hospital’s fourth consecutive “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction rec- ognizes Mercy Medical Center’s achieve- ments in protecting patients from prevent- able harm and error in the hospital.
Members of Mercy executive leadership team and board of directors congratu- lated colleagues and medical staff on the
achievement. Colleagues also received commemorative tee-shirts and enjoyed ice cream treats from a Ben & Jerry’s food truck.
“This unprecedented accomplish- ment reflects the success of incredible teamwork throughout the hospital,”
said Debirah Bitsoli, president of Mercy Medical Center. “Every day, our affiliated and employed primary care providers and specialists, hospital-based providers,
and members of the support staff place our patients at the center of everything they do. It is through their efforts that we have been able to achieve this important national recognition from Leapfrog for the fourth time in a row.”
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, as-
signs an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance
measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
To see Mercy Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit Hospital- SafetyGrade.org.
At left (from left), Sister Mary Caritas, SP, Sister Ruth McGoldrick, SP, and Deborah Bitsoli, president of Mercy Medical Center and Trinity Health of New England Medical Group. At right, Dr. Robert Roose, chief administrative officer and chief medical officer, and Bradley Harmon, executive director of Mission Integration.
Carmen Graziano Wins MHA’s ‘You Matter!’ Award
SPRINGFIELD — Mental Health Asso- ciates, in partnership with Pioneer Valley Financial Group, created its “You Matter!” recognition program in 2018 to highlight employees and members of the commu- nity committed to making a difference in the lives of others.
Carmen Graziano, the most recent indi- vidual given “You Matter!” designation,
is the award’s very definition in what she has accomplished in her recovery from a medical condition and how she interacts with the community through her part- time office work at MHA’s Worthington Street headquarters.
Graziano was referred five years ago to MHA’s New Way division for those with an acquired brain injury after a stroke several years earlier left her with impair- ments and in a skilled nursing home facility. The division helps such referrals through a state program transition from
an institutionalized setting into one of its small, neighborhood-based group homes that provides 24/7 care as well as access to a range of rehabilitation services to maximize independence.
“Since being in the community with MHA, Carmen has worked hard to rebuild the skills she had lost,” said Sara Kyser, MHA’s New Way Vice President, who nominated Graziano for “You Matter!” recognition. “She did so well in her first group home that her progress led MHA
to need to create a more independent, transitional home for Carmen. She has continued to excel in this home.”
Kyser added that Graziano “began her journey back into the vocational world” about two years ago. Her “long work ex- perience” included both home health aide and agency office worker.
“These skills, paired with Carmen’s drive and hard work, made her a great fit
for MHA,” said Kyser. “Carmen joined the MHA team as a part-time reception- ist, covering the desk during lunch and at other times when relief is needed. Carmen is a wonderful asset to the team and has worked hard to ensure that all people entering through our doors feel welcomed and have their needs tended to.”
Kyser underscored why Graziano was an “easy choice” as a “You Matter!” nomi- nee with a specific example of what she called Carmen’s “beautiful interact” with others as an MHA receptionist.
“Each and every day Carmen takes her role very seriously and engages attentively with anyone who may need support,”
she said. “There was one day in particu- lar when I could hear Carmen speaking with someone who was served within the agency. The gentleman was a bit anxious waiting for his worker and expressed some frustration with being in services.”
Kyser said that Graziano “shared her story, identifying herself as an MHA participant.”
“She spoke to him of the struggles
that she went through and spoke of the benefits of attending therapy and working hard to help himself get ahead,” Kyser said. “The anxiety in the gentlemen’s voice started to dissipate and he began asking Carmen questions that she happily answered. It was a beautiful interact that Carmen spontaneously had with this gentleman at a vulnerable time for him.”
Graziano, Kyser said, “went above and beyond the expectations of her role and demonstrated the core values of MHA — respect, integrity, and compassion — in a way that made me proud that she is the first face that people see when they come in the door.”